The Madison County netters are consistently improving this season as both boys’ and girls’ teams prepare to face non region opponent Hart County this afternoon (Thursday).
Both varsity teams are 8-1 overall as the Red Raiders are undefeated in region play and the Lady Red Raiders are 4-1.
Following today’s match with Hart County, Madison County takes on Apalachee in region play Monday. The Red Raiders host the matches starting at 4:30 p.m. Next Tuesday, the netters host Flowery Branch at 4 p.m.
Last week’s scheduled match with Clarke Central, March 9, was postponed due to weather. As of press time, the new date for that match had not been decided.
Last week, the Red Raider netters added wins over Habersham Central in region play.
The boys won 5-0, led by Trey Morris (6-0, 6-0).
The Lady Red Raiders also recorded a 3-2 win as Sam LaZear (6-3, 6-2) at number two singles and the doubles teams of Kaitlyn Hale and Adrienne Fitzpatrick (6-1, 6-0), and Abby Morgan and KayLee Bates (6-0, 6-0), secured the victory.
Over the weekend, the Madison County netters competed in the Granger Invitational. The girls earned top honors and the boys took third.
For individual results see the print edition of the Madison County Journal.
“This was our first team tournament in several years,” said coach Keith Strickland. “The experience was good for our players and should give them more confidence as we head into the second half of the season. I think they learned a lot from the experience and will be a stronger team down the stretch.”
The Lady Red Raiders won their division in a clean sweep 3-0, defeating teams from Harris County (3-1), First Presbyterian Day (5-0) and Eagle’s Landing (4-1) in the championship match.
LaZear and both doubles teams of Hale/Fitzpatrick and Morgan/Bates played undefeated across all three matches. Ortman played two of the matches also going undefeated.
The Red Raiders earned third place in the boys’ division, 2-1.
Defeating Eagle’s Landing (5-0), then falling to Harris County (2-3), they rebounded to defeat First Presbyterian Day (3-2).
Morris dominated all of his opponents – going 3-0 and only losing one game out of six sets.
Strickland played a tough opponent (Harris) almost staging a comeback from 5-1 and 4-1 sets. Doubles team Dooley/Osborne also had strong sets.
Monday of this week, the Madison County netters took on Winder Barrow defeating the Bulldoggs’ teams 5-0 in girls action and 4-1 in boys play.
Bowen went 3-6, 6-2, 6-4; LaZear, Ortman and Hale/Fitzpatrick each won 6-0, 6-0; and Morgan/Bates won 6-1, 6-2
Morris won 6-0, 6-1; Strickland won 6-0, 6-3; Boleman lost 5-7, 6-4, 6-7; Branson/Hancock won 2-6, 6-3, 6-1; and Dooley/Osborne won 6-0, 6-0.
